Clarence River Historical Society — Local services in Grafton

The headquarters of the region’s historical society are set in the elegant Schaeffer House, a homestead built at the turn of the 20th century by the son of a pioneer German family.

There’s a museum and research room inside, and the society is the oldest of its kind in NSW, having been formed in 1931. F.W.C. Schaeffer was Grafton’s first architect, and when you visit be sure to appreciate the exceptional quality of the workmanship and fittings.

The interior abounds with paintings, black and white photography, glassware, ceramics, furniture, costume, textiles and a hoard of intriguing artefacts charting the history of the Clarence...

As a Brit with a long layover in Northern NSW, travelling from Sydney to Byron Bay, here I spent a few fascinating hours among the material culture of the Europeans who settled in the Clarence River valley between the mid-nineteenth century and the mid-twentieth. Just about every aspect of settler life is covered, with donated objects curated by volunteers. The jack-plug telephone exchange, the cattle brands, the domestic paraphernalia... visitors are immersed in a world that's now been replaced by modern technology. Definitely...

Great place to visit to appreciate past times of early settlers, local history, those who fought for what freedom we have today. Very pleasant, friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff, great volunteers, well equipped research room. Small admission fee a great investment to experience the extensive display of items and history on display, give yourself plenty of time to indulge - you won't be...